You don’t need to change, you’re perfect just the way you are. Yes, this is a true statement — especially as it relates to the relationship between how you were created and your health. The body is MORE than capable of repairing itself, healing itself, detoxifying itself; the body is constantly working to maintain a state of homeostasis (I’ll define that term later on). So, if that’s the case the next question must be, “What’s the point in LIVING HEALTHY if the body can deal with and maintain itself?” Here’s why!
Homeostasis is the body’s way to seek and maintain a condition of balance within its internal environment, even when faced with external changes. A good example is when you “fall ill” and the body will either heat up (fever), throw up (to rid itself of something that cannot be digested), diarrhea (liquefying the bowels to quickly remove items from the body), pimples/rashes (utilization of the skin to remove toxins), etc. Our bodies are pretty smart if you did not know.
Homeostasis is the body’s way to seek and maintain a condition of balance within its internal environment, even when faced with external changes.
With all this hard-work happening inside the body, you have the advantage of supporting it with the actions and decisions that you make.
Let’s look at exercise first. To create just a short list of the benefits of exercise: strengthens the heart and lungs, protects your blood pressure (that heart of yours regulates your blood pressure…regular exercise supports this functionality), lowers cholesterol, exercise can prevent cancer (in some cases). If you choose not to exercise, of course the heart will still pump blood, and the liver will still regulate cholesterol levels based on the needs of the body, but why not CHOOSE to exercise to support this functions and support the body?
NUTRITION – yes, you know I can talk food and nutrition all day long. The reason behind that is vast, but the short of it is our bodies respond a certain way when we eat certain foods oppose to others. If you over consume salt, you can directly affect the heart’s ability to regulate blood pressure (that’s high blood pressure). If you consume foods that raise your cholesterol (no, cholesterol is not bad, but maintaining certain levels are imperative) you force your liver to adjust the amount it is producing to handle the foods you are introducing to the body. If you consume processed foods (in abundance) you force your digestive system to work harder; yes, your body was made to break down foods, but to exhaust your organs in the name of a good tasting meal, just gotta ask yourself why?
Don’t read this and think, geez I cannot enjoy life and live. Taking good care of yourself is the BEST place you can be and live. Being conscious of how your decisions impact your health is a place of awareness that you want to live in. In the long run, you set yourself up for a fuller, happier, healthier life this way. You’re not trying to change who you are; we established already that you’re perfect. Just be your body’s number supporter, hype man, and friend as it relates to health, function, and longevity.
Princess Akeema